The me 262 storm bird was a german fighter aircraft flown during late world war ii it was the first jet to be used in war its design start in 1938 first flown 18 july 1942 and first appeared in the skies over europe in 1944 there was a total of 1 300 built and claimed a total of 509 allied kills the me 262 family a variety of roles including light bomber reconnaissance heavy weapon and even experimental night fighter versions the me 262 a 1au2 was a single prototype with fu g 220 lich